The Whole Duty of a Christian, Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
§. 1. NOr is he partial in his obedience, but universal, making conscience of every duty, and all that God commands; the first Table as well as the second, and the second as well as the first; framing his will to Gods Will in every thing, even labouring to be perfect, and holy, as his Father in Heaven is; and to imitate Christ, be conformed to his likenesse, and to be holy as he was in all parts of his conversation; and that at all times and in all companies; as conscientious alone and in private, where God only sees him, as if his greatest enemy, or all the world did behold him; he hath a spirit without guile, and is more desirous to be good then so accounted, and more seeks the power of godlinesse then the shew of it; and therefore keeps a narrower watch over his very thoughts then any other can do over his actions, and is accordingly grieved for them. He makes conscience of the smallest things required or forbidden in the Word; and is as careful to shun the very occasions of sin, or least appearances, or first mo…ions of sin as actual sin it self; not daring to gratifie Satan in committing the least sin, or neglect God in omitting the smallest precept.
§. 2. He does not serve God by the precepts of men, not fear his displeasure for breaking their traditions; neither does he think himself sanctified by outward performances, as do our Formalists and Protestants at large, who stand more upon circumstance then substance, and upon outward priviledges then inward graces, but he serves God in spirit, according to Christs Gospel, for he lives and believes, and hears, and invocates, and hopes, and fears, and loves, and worships God in such manner as his Word prescribes, without addition or deminution; neither doth he follow the examples of the greatest number, or the greatest men, or the greatest Schollers, because Christ hath plainly told him, That few of either sort (compared with the multitude) shall be saved; of which small number he strives to be.
§. 3. All which he performs with chearfulnesse, being ever willing and ready to do good; and in …incerity and simplicity, with a single heart, without by-ends, as loving righteousnesse and mercy, and doing good duties merely out of love to God and goodnesse, and because God commands them that he may be glorified, and others edified thereby; yea he would do what he is able out of love to Christ, though himself should never have credit nor benefit by it here, nor hereafter; earnestly desiring grace that he might more honour him, and grieving that he can perform no be…ter service to so good a Master. He will not (as too many most sordidly do) take liberty to sin, because God is merciful, and forbeares to execute judgment speedily; or defer his repentance, because the Theef upon the Crosse was heard at the last hour: but he will even therefore the more fear him because he is merciful; and therefore be holy, because he is not under the Law, but under grace.
§. 4. And lastly, having thus done, and performed his utmost, not to merit by it, but to expresse his thankfulnesse to him that hath done, performed, and suffered so much for him; he confesseth himsel… an unprofitable servant, and that in all he comes far short of performing his duty; yea, he acknowledgeth, that it were just for God eternally to condemn him. Well may he be comforted by the graces which God hath given him, as an earnest penny of those eternal Mansions in Heaven; but he will not be exalted by them because they are not his graces, but the Graces of God in him, and wrought by his Spirit: yea, he so abhors to attribute or ascribe ought to doing, that he counts his very righteousnesse no better then filthy rags, ascribing every good thought, word, and action which proceeds from him to Free Grace, for he looks back to the rock out of which he was hewen, and is not onelyonly humbled thereby, but forced with an holy admiration to wonder at the marvellous and extraordinary change which God hath wrought in him, and also instructed to trust onelyonly to Christs obedience, in whom onelyonly our good works are accepted, and for whom alone they are rewarded. To shut up all, he endeavours so to live as if there were no Gospel, and so to dye as if there were no Law.